Syracuse, N.Y. — St. Joseph’s Health is restoring Covid-19 vaccination religious exemptions for its employees in response to a federal court order.
About 100 St. Joe’s employees received religious exemptions after the hospital mandated the vaccine for its employees July 8.
St. Joe’s is the only Syracuse hospital that imposed its own vaccine mandate. But the Catholic hospital, which is part of the Trinity Health national health system, had to rescind those exemptions after the state recently decided not to allow them.
U.S. District Judge David Hurd issued an order Tuesday temporarily blocking the enforcement of New York state’s Covid vaccination mandate on health care workers who sought religious exemptions.
While the state mandate allows medical exemptions, it prohibits religious exemptions. Without the order, workers who sought a religious exemption and did not get a first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 27 would lose their jobs. The court ordered the state to respond to the lawsuit by Sept. 22 and argue the case on Sept. 28.
In a letter issued today, St. Joe’s informed employees it will reinstate the religious exemptions, but warned it may have to revoke them again if the court order is overturned.
“First, we know the uncertainty of this situation in incredibly frustrating and stressful,” the letter said. “Please know this was never our intention. We promise to keep you informed and let you know of developments that affect your religious exemption status.”
The letter says:
- Medical exemptions are being reinstated until further notice for employees whose exemption applications were previously approved.
- St. Joe’s will review medical exemption applications that were rejected on the basis of state regulations and will notify applicants as soon as possible if they are approved or denied.
- New employees will be allowed to apply for religious exemptions.
“As a faith-based health system, we have pledged to protect the most vulnerable. And although the decision to require the vaccination may not resonate with all colleagues, we know it was the right decision,” the letter says.
James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com